Masdar, Total and Abengoa Launch Shams 1, the World’s Largest Concentrated Solar Power Plant in Operation

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Last Updated: Mon, Mar 18, 2013 11:50 hrs

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:

Masdar,
along with its partners, has launched Shams 1, the largest
concentrated solar power plant (CSP) in operation in the world. Masdar,
Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, partnered with French energy
company Total and Spain’s energy infrastructure company Abengoa. The
100-megawatt solar-thermal project will power thousands of homes in the
United Arab Emirates and displace approximately 175,000 tons of CO₂ per
year. The US $600 million project took three years to build.

“The inauguration of Shams 1 is a major breakthrough for renewable
energy in the Middle East,” said Dr.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar. “Just like the rest of the
word, the region is faced with meeting its rising demand for energy,
while also working to reduce its carbon footprint. Shams 1 is a
significant milestone, as large-scale renewable energy is proving it can
deliver electricity that is sustainable, affordable and secure.”

Located in the UAE’s Western Region, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Shams
1 was designed and developed by Shams Power Company, a joint venture
between Masdar (60 percent), Total (20 percent) and Abengoa Solar (20
percent). With the addition of Shams 1, Masdar’s renewable energy
portfolio accounts for almost 68 percent of the Gulf’s renewable energy
capacity and nearly 10 percent of the world’s installed CSP capacity.

“Abu Dhabi is investing and incubating a new energy industry,
domestically and internationally,” said Dr. Al Jaber. “Through Masdar,
the UAE is redefining the role it plays in providing the world with
energy. From precious hydrocarbon exports to sophisticated renewable
energy systems, we are balancing the energy mix and diversifying our
economy – moving toward a more sustainable future. Today, the UAE is the
only OPEC nation delivering both hydrocarbons and renewable energy to
the international market.”

Shams 1 is an example of how collaboration between companies can achieve
large-scale, clean-energy solutions that help meet the world’s growing
energy demands.

“As a long-lasting partner of Abu Dhabi, we are particularly proud to
have been part of the challenging adventure that was Shams 1
construction. This is a major step in the process of transforming the
capabilities of solar power in the region,” said Christophe de Margerie,
chairman and CEO of Total. “We share Abu Dhabi’s vision that renewables
have a promising future alongside fossil energies. Total is today a
world leader in solar industry. As such, we are pleased to accompany the
Emirate in the diversification of its energy mix.”

Covering an area of 2.5 km, or 285 football fields, Shams 1 generates
electricity to power 20,000 homes in the UAE. Also, because solar power
is generated during peak demand, the UAE is able to reduce the need for
“peak shaving” generators, which are expensive and idle most of the year.

“The Middle East holds nearly half of the world’s renewable energy
potential,” said Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar. “The abundance of
solar energy is an opportunity to integrate sustainable, clean sources
of power that address energy security and climate change. The region
needs more projects like Shams 1, and we look forward to pushing the
boundaries of future energy.”

Incorporating the latest in parabolic trough technology, Shams 1
features more than 258,000 mirrors mounted on 768 tracking parabolic
trough collectors. By concentrating heat from direct sunlight onto
oil-filled pipes, Shams 1 produces steam, which drives a turbine and
generates electricity. In addition, the solar project uses a booster to
heat steam as it enters the turbine to dramatically increase the cycle’s
efficiency. The project also includes a dry-cooling system that
significantly reduces water consumption – a critical advantage in the
arid desert of western Abu Dhabi.